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Chupin was thus hungering for the price of blood, when, on the day of the trial, as he was returning from the citadel, after making his deposition, he entered a drinking saloon. While there he heard the name of Lacheneur uttered in low tones near him. Two peasants were emptying a bottle of wine, and one of them, an old man, was telling the other that he had come to Montaignac to give Mlle.
The man who accompanies you has terrible mustaches for a farmer. Besides, you must remember that there have been troubles across the frontier at Montaignac." From crimson Maurice had turned white. He felt that he was discovered that he was in this man's power. What should he do? What good would denial do?
But on approaching the frontier, which they knew to be strictly guarded, the fugitives became even more cautious. They waited until nightfall before presenting themselves at a lonely inn, where they hoped to procure a guide to lead them through the defiles of the mountains. Frightful news awaited them there. The innkeeper informed them of the bloody massacre at Montaignac.
Blanche de Courtornieu did not surprise the inhabitants of Montaignac in the least. But spreading such a report, with Lacheneur's execution fresh in the minds of everyone, could not fail to bring odium upon these men who had held absolute power, and who had exercised it so mercilessly.
This bourgeois was very young, but he had a well-filled purse, and that was enough. "You will excuse me," resumed the host, in quite a different tone. "You see, we are obliged to be very careful. There has been some trouble in Montaignac."
"Then you knew that this was the spot appointed for the general rendezvous?" "Lacheneur had just informed me." "If I believed your story, I should tell you that it was your duty to have hastened to Montaignac and informed the authorities. But what you say is untrue. You did not leave Lacheneur, you accompanied him." "No, Monsieur, no!" "And what if I could prove this fact beyond all question?"
So it was decided that Father Poignot should accompany Marie-Anne to the frontier that very night; there she would take the diligence that ran between Piedmont and Montaignac, passing through the village of Sairmeuse. It was with the greatest care that the abbe dictated to Marie-Anne the story she was to tell of her sojourn in foreign lands.
"We wish to prevent the accomplishment of an act of madness!" exclaimed M. d'Escorval. "Hatred has crazed you, Lacheneur!" "You know nothing of my projects!" "Do you think that I do not suspect them? You hope to capture Montaignac " "What does that matter to you?" interrupted Lacheneur, violently. But M. d'Escorval would not be silenced.
Though he died from lack of nourishment and exhaustion under a bush by the wayside, his emaciated body would still be worth twenty thousand francs. And the man who found his corpse would not give it burial. He would place it on his cart and bear it to Montaignac. He would go to the authorities and say: "Here is Lacheneur's body give me the reward!"
But a robust young fellow, with an intelligent face, who, perhaps, read Father Chupin's secret heart, brusquely interrupted him: "What does the presence of the Duc de Sairmeuse at Montaignac matter to us?" he exclaimed. "Let him remain at the Hotel de France as long as he chooses; we shall not go in search of him." "No! we shall not go in search of him," echoed the other peasants, approvingly.
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